diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 9766c29b9d..da918e6fe4 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from django.utils.version import get_version
 
-VERSION = (5, 0, 0, "beta", 1)
+VERSION = (5, 0, 0, "rc", 1)
 
 __version__ = get_version(VERSION)